[RobertClark]

The margin to the debt limit is the difference between the last two lines on the table illustrated. You are posting part of the official Department of Treasury report, second page where Table III comes from. The first number highlighted is interesting, but not the one used for the “statutory debt limit” — a calculation set in law/regulations (either of which takes an Act of Congress to change, or public notice for regulation changes).

I am very well aware of that fact. That is why the title accurately states: "total" U.S. debt. The ridiculous point is in allowing debt that does not count as "debt". That is like creating a law that states your home mortgage cannot be counted as part of your debt to income ratio. The absurdity lies in Congress' attempt to define debt as being something other than total indebtedness.

[ChildOfThe60s]

Taking expenditures “off the books” is their clever way of fixing the numbers. Fannie & Freddie for example.

The real debt is considerably worse than most people, especially our “representatives” have any idea. Totally clueless.